While it can still be a bit rough around the edges, the transportation network in Vietnam continues to improve. There are quite a few forms of travel that one can use when traveling or living in Vietnam. We look to cover these in this chapter.
The roads, which is where the majority of the travel takes place, are mostly decent when it comes to the surface quality. Unlike some countries, most vehicles are also maintained in good condition.
There are boat ferries complete with air-conditioning that will take you to neighboring islands. This is particularly great in the warmer and more humid months of the year. Tourists account for most of the seat bookings on ferries, but there has been an increase in ferry use by locals as well.
Trains run parallel to highway and the sleeper cars are much more comfortable than the buses when it comes to longer journeys. There are also domestic flights that are cheap and the seats are comfortable.
Domestic flight
If you choose to travel by domestic flight, you will find that your options may still be somewhat limited though Vietnam does have a number of airlines, operating domestically, to choose from.
Their largest, Vietnam Airlines, is a state owned corporation and manages seventy percent of the domestic flights.
The next two most popular airlines are Jetstar Pacific and Air Mekong which focus mostly on providing low-cost domestic flights.
Domestic flights are increasing in popularity and frequency with the most frequent of these flights going between the major cities with larger airports. Those include Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hanoi. Most of the airlines will offer direct flights, but they do not go to the main tourist destinations as often. Those include Dien Bien, Nha Trang, Da Lat and Hai Phong. Ticket prices range from fifty to one hundred dollars USD (one way) depending upon which airline you choose and any special discounts they may be offering.
Travel by railway is an increasingly popular form of travel as well，. Traveling by train gives you the opportunity to truly appreciate the beautiful scenery Vietnam has to offer. A word of warning, however. If you travel by train, keep close track of all your belongings as theft and pickpocketing can be somewhat commonplace. Always be aware of your surroundings and your belongings.
Public bus system
Another way to get around in Vietnam is to use the public bus system. This is probably the most convenient and cheapest way to get around town. The bus system is well developed and, like the train, will go to almost every part of the country.
When traveling by bus, know that there are two types of buses to use. There is the interprovincial bus system and the local bus system.
Every province within Vietnam has a major bus terminal and you will find this to be especially true in the major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. There are buses that travel to every major destination and all provinces within Vietnam.
Interprovincial buses are of higher quality and offer great service with large comfortable seats. With these buses, you purchase your ticket at the terminal and when the conductor on the bus comes around, simply show it to him or her.
If you are using the train to travel, such as taking a vacation holiday, typically there are no size/weight limits on your baggage. Prices will depend on how far you are going and what type of seat and class of car you purchase.
Like the interprovincial buses, local buses will travel to almost all cities in Vietnam. Private buses run by private companies are also an option, but they are limited as to how far they will go and you will find that there are less options for destinations with the private companies. The private companies also tend to be more expensive than the city buses.
Passengers on the local buses will purchase their ticket directly from the conductor at the bus stop. It is much cheaper to travel by city bus, but the accommodations are not as nice as they are with the interprovincial buses. If the bus is too crowded, you might have to stand. There is rarely air conditioning on the city buses and the conductors do not tend to speak English. However, it is a great way to meet the locals and get to know your new neighbors!
Some helpful tips to travel by bus
We have some helpful tips for you when choosing to travel by bus. When purchasing your ticket, make sure you are only buying them from a registered booth in the bus terminal or directly from the conductor if you are traveling by local bus.
It is best to avoid buses that travel around the city until it gets enough passengers to fill it up. In most cases, that can take several hours and you will not get to your destination in a timely manner. Make sure you are clear on the price before you get on the bus. It should be the same price for every passenger. As we mentioned with the train, keep a close eye on your personal belongings.
Once you become familiar with routes and other locals, traveling by bus will be a breeze and might even become your preferred method of travel.
Driving
Driving in Vietnam is done on the right side of the road as in the USA, China and most European countries. When considering Vietnam, versus many of the other Southeast Asian countries, this is another practice that you may have a preference for depending on what traffic orientation you are most comfortable with. It is also something to be aware of as a pedestrian.
If you thought you might purchase a car in Vietnam, you may want to reconsider due to the higher rate and taxes
You can have your car shipped either by sea or air freight and there are a couple of reputable companies you can use for this
While it is possible to either purchase a car or have yours shipped to Vietnam, the cost of those is not the only thing to consider. To own a car in Vietnam comes with huge fees
You will also need to obtain a Vietnamese drivers’ license through the ministry of transport. The cost is approximately 40,000 VND (Vietnamese Dong) and takes about five to seven days to process.
These are some crucial points to consider when deciding whether or not to purchase and own a car in Vietnam. Considering that the public transportation system is pretty well established, you might want to avoid owning a car and save yourself some money.
Taxis
Along the lines of traveling by car, and using public transportation, comes the option of taxis. They are pretty convenient, though automobile taxis tend to run mostly in larger cities and upper scale urban areas.
There are two types of taxies in Vietnam. Official and unofficial. The official taxi services are more reputable and have fair, reasonable prices with consistent quality and better customer service. They are also safer.
If you like to live adventurously, you can consider the unofficial taxi services. These are owned and operated by individual drivers and the service may not be as high in quality while at the same time being more expensive.
Most of the unofficial taxis do not have meters and are not up front about their charges. They also tend to be more careless drivers on the road. Be aware and choose carefully.
Rideshare cab options, in lieu of standard taxi services, are now available in parts of Vietnam including UBER and GRAB among others.
Both companies also offer “MOTO” (motorbike/scooter) type service. This rideshare service, like automobile transportation, provides a smartphone app enabled MOTO service that is another lower cost transport option for many parts of Vietnam.
Motorbike / Scooter
The most popular form of motorized travel in Vietnam is the motorbike. You can own one for much less than a car and the price for a decent used motorbike can be around $250 (USD). Fuel usage is cheaper because the engine is smaller and as of yet, there is no talk of imposing a monthly fee for owning a motorbike. You will still need to get a Vietnamese drivers’ license and the use of a helmet is a country wide law. You will also need to purchase insurance for your motorbike. One oddity on Vietnam motorbikes is that a large percentage of them only have a mirror on the left-side whereas most other countries typically have two; one on each side
Depending on where you live, walking or riding a bicycle are also great as well as free and healthy ways to get around a city and town.